Carroll County Proclaims October Long-term Care Residents’ Rights Month
Westminster, MD, Thursday, October 22, 2020 – Today, the Carroll County Board of Commissioners proclaimed October as Carroll County Long-Term Care Residents’ Rights Month. Across Carroll County, the state of Maryland and the country, residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities, along with family members, ombudsmen, citizen advocates, facility staff and others, will honor the individual rights of long-term care residents by celebrating Residents’ Rights Month.
The theme for Residents' Rights Month 2020 is “Connection Matters”– to emphasize connections to family, friends, and the community as an essential component of good health and quality of life for long-term care residents. Socially distanced and safe connections are even more meaningful to residents, especially during COVID-19 restrictions.
“The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted how connections to family, friends and the community are important to our resident population and their quality of life,” said Commissioner Ed Rothstein. “We are grateful to have outstanding staff who selflessly serve and protect the rights of loved ones in our resident communities every day.”
The Nursing Home Reform Law, passed in 1987, guarantees nursing home residents their individual rights. All long-term care residents should be aware of their rights so they may be empowered to live with dignity and self-determination. The Carroll County Board of Commissioners urges all Carroll Countians to take time this month to acknowledge long-term care residents and the people who care for them for their valuable contribution to our community.
Nationally, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program has worked for more than 40 years to promote residents’ rights daily. Authorized under the Older Americans Act and administered locally by the Maryland Department of Aging and the Carroll County Bureau of Aging and Disabilities, the program also provides information on how to select a long term care facility, conducts community education sessions, and supports residents, their families and the public with one-on-one consultation regarding long-term care.
For more information on the rights of long-term care residents and the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, please visit the Bureau of Aging and Disabilities website. For more information on Residents’ Rights Month, please visit the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care website.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Gail Gannon 410-386-3810
Tina Linder 410-386-3817
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